Submerged apparatus and method of positioning the same



T. B. FIFIELD Dec. 29, 1970 SUBMERGED APPARATUS AND METHOD OFPOSITIONING THE SAME Filed Oct. 17, 1968 INVENTOR. T h o mas B.

Fifield Attorneys United States Patent 3,550,387 SUBMERGED APPARATUS ANDMETHOD OF POSITIONING THE SAME Thomas B. Fifield, 1535 W. Dean Road,Milwaukee, Wis. 53217 Filed Oct. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 768,309 Int. Cl.B63c 11/44; E02d 9/06 U.S. Cl. 61--69 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a submerged structure and to themethod of positioning the submerged structure in the liquid body.

Structures are presently secured to the base of a body of liquid byproviding negative buoyancy such that the device sinks and rests on thebottom of the body of liquid. The structure may also be constructed toprovide positive buoyancy with suitable anchoring means such as cablesto hold it in the submerged position. Although such systems have beenemployed, they have certain distinct disadvantages especially whenpositioned on bottoms having an uneven or steeply sloping surface. Ifthe structure is placed by negative buoyancy, the floor or bottom areamust have a contour and consistency suitable to properly support thestructure and permit it to rest in a level position thereon. If thestructure is provided with the positive buoyancy, the placement andsecurement of the anchor means and the proper tensioning of theconnections with the anchor means so as to level the structure mayrequire complicated and expensive design.

The present invention is particularly directed to a novel and improvedmeans of submerging, locating and leveling a device or structure at apreselected location in I spaced relation to the base of the submergingliquid.

Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the structureincludes a container having a bottom opening and containing a volume ofgas. The structure is so constructed and provided with gas that, whenimmersed in liquid, it produces a selected negative buoyancy. Thestructure, therefore, submerges and approaches the base or bottom of theliquid body. In accordance with the present invention, a control membersuch as a pillarshaped post is secured to the base or bottom andprojects upwardly therefrom to enter the opening of the container. Thestructure is constructed and provided with a volume of gas sufiicient tocreate the selected negative buoyancy and is then lowered upon thecontrol post until the condition of neutral buoyancy is established witha resulting locking elTect. The intermediate floor provides an uppersealed habitat.

A supply of air or other suitable gases may be introduced through asuitable air line to the habitat with a lower escape or discharge valveplaced just below the interior water line at the neutral buoyancyposition to permit a continuous flow through the structure. Theintroduction of additional gas would tend to increase the air volume.This, however, would tend to increase the buoyancy of the habitatcausing it to rise. As soon as it started to rise, however, the insideopening of the escape valve would emerge from the water and allow suchadditional air to flow out of the escape valve into the surroundingliquid and thereby re-establish the condition of neutral buoyancy.

Such a habitat or any other structure could also be readily brought tothe surface by increasing the trapped volume of air so as to increasethe buoyancy to a positive level. For example, if the device :is beingemployed as a habitat or other system wherein air or other gas is positively introduced into the structure, it would merely be necessary toclose the escape valve. The additional air or gas within the devicewould then increase its buoyancy and cause it to rise. If the gas is notpositively fed to the device, an auxiliary seal container could besupported within the device and triggered to introduce gas into thedevice by means of a suitable remote control or the like.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates the best mode presentlycontemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention and clearlydiscloses the above advantages and features as well as others which willbe readily understood from the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a container held in the submergedposition in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the submerged structure incrosssection; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the invention applied to ahabitat type construction.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the presentinvention is shown applied to positioning of a cylindrical, invertedcup-slhaped member 1 within a body of water 2. As illustrated, moreclearly in FIG. 2, the illustrated cylindrical member 1 is shown as asimple inverted cylinder having an open bottom and sealed top. Themember defines a chamber containing a volume of gas which in thesupported position projects downwardly over a post or pillar 3 which issecured to the floor 4 of the body of water. The pillar 3 is illustratedas a gen erally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially lessthan the internal diameter of the container. The member 1 is held spacedfrom the pillar at a position of neutral buoyancy and tends to maintainits vertical positioning.

In positioning of the member 1 to the pillar 3, the

- member is filled with a desired volume of gas and immersed within thewater with the open end projecting downwardly. The construction of thegas-containing member is selected such as to create a selected slightlynegative buoyancy when it is inserted into the body of the water 2. As aresult, the member sinks within the body of water 2 and is guided toalign the open end of the cylinder with the pillar and allow it to dropdownwardly over the pillar 3 which projects upwardly into the containedgas.

The pillar 3 displaces the gas and causes it to effectively movedownwardly around the outside of the pillar thereby depressing theliquid level within the member 1.

This results in an increase in the positive direction of the buoyancy ofthe member 1.

At a selected position, the gas pressures acting within the memberresult in a neutral buoyancy at which point the member is effectivelylocked, in the vertical direction, to the pillar 3.

It can be shown that the buoyancy of the member is dependent upon theratio between (a) the distance from the top of the gas chamber in thechamber 1 to the top of the pillar 3 and (b) the distance from the topof the gas chamber container to the water level within the gas chamber.In order to achieve neutral buoyancy, the volume of gas within thecontainer must be sufiiciently small so that, even without insertion ofthe pillar, the

member would have a negative buoyancy, but also sufficiently large sothat the weight of the member cannot cause the top of the gas chamber tocome to rest on the top of the pillar. If the container has a positivebuoyancy prior to such insertion, the insertion of the pillar would tendto increase this positive buoyancy. Conversely, if the container hasexcessive negative buoyancy prior to such insertion, it would come torest on the pillar still in a state of negative buoyancy. In either suchcase, establishment of a condition of neutral buoyancy would beimpossible. If, however, the container should be placed on the pillarwith a positive buoyancy and through some means sufiicient air or othergas is then removed to establish a suitable gas volume and buoyancycondition, the insertion of the pillar can still provide a modifyingeffect and establish a neutral buoyancy.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the member 1 is providedwith a high pressure gas cartridge 5 which is secured within the upperportion of the gas chamber. The cartridge 5 includes a suitable remotelycontrolled triggered valve means 6 to allow the gas to escape into thegas chamber. For example, a valve means responsive to hypersonic soundsignals, electromagnetic signals or the like may be employed. When thevalve means 6 is triggered, the high pressure gas enters the gas chamberwith the volume increasing sufficiently to establish positive buoyancyto the member 1. As a result, the container will rise to the surface.Any excess gas will, of course, escape out through the bottom opening ofthe member 1.

Furthermore, the volume of gas within the container may be varied,within certain limits, while still permitting the container to remainlocked onto the pillar. Such variances of volume within such limits willcause a proportional change in the vertical positioning of the containerwith respect to the pillar, thus allowing the container to be raised orlowered a limited distance.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a coiled guide line 7 isshown interconnected between the top of the pillar 3 and the top wall ofthe member 1.

This provides a possible means for guiding of the member 1 onto thepillar 3. Obviously, any other suitable guide means can be employed asdesired. For example, a guide wire attached to the pillar might projectupwardly through a watertight bushing in the top of the member andprovide a sliding guide for the member downwardly over the pillar.

The combination of the pillar 3 with the telescoping gas-containingchamber provides a particularly satisfactory means for positioning andsupporting any assembly to the floor of a body of water or other liquid.The member 1 is essentially supported on a cushion of gas which permitsself-leveling of the member and minimizes the danger of shock forcesbeing exerted on the structure during the process of positioning with aresulting physical damage. For example, the assembly to be so locatedmay include complex and/or fragile instruments which would be readilydamaged by the more conventional means of submerging and securing thestructure near the bottom of the body of water.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a structure similar to that shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, but modified to provide a habitat having air circulatingtherethrough. Corresponding elements in the embodiments of the inventionshown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided with corresponding identifyingcharacters for simplicity and clarity of explanation.

In FIG. 3 an intermediate supporting wall 8 is provided in the memberlocated to lie above and in spaced relation to the uppermost surface ofthe pillar 3. This would provide a supporting structure or enclosuremeans for humans and the like. The intermediate wall 8 is provided withan escape hatch 9 which may be selectively opened and closed and whichalso provides communication between the chamber portions above and belowthe Cit 4 wall. To provide a continuous source of air to the chamber, agas tube 10 is shown secured to the top of the wall and extendedupwardly through the body of water. The upper end would be connected toa suitable source of air 11. An air escape port 12 is provided in thesidewall of member 1 immediately below the interior water line. The airintroduced into the member increases the buoyancy of the system andcauses the member to rise. However, as soon as it rises, the air escapeport moves above the water level and allows gas to escape with adecreased buoyancy. As a result, the member lowers to again close theport and reestablish a cycle. This action stabilizes the structure atthe neutral buoyancy point.

To laterally stabilize the member, a plurality of securement cables 13may be provided or interconnected between the pillar 3 and the member 1.

If it is desired to raise the container, the exhaust port would beclosed by any suitable means. The gas added to the member establishes apositive buoyancy causing it to float off the pillar. At that point, thehatch may be closed to seal the habitat chamber. The container willcontinue to rise to the surface as a result of the positive buoyancywhich had been established. The sealing of the hatch provides a sealedpressure chamber within which personnel may remain during the ascent tothe surface. This essentially eliminates premature decompression anddanger of an uncontrolled acceleration of the upward movement of themember.

Thus, the present invention broadly provides a highly improved means forlocating and supporting a submerged assembly within a body of liquid.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A submerged apparatus submerged within a submerging liquid,comprising a means having a chamber containing a volume of contained gasand said chamber having an opening to said gas, said means having aselected negative buoyancy when submerged within the liquid, and acontrol member projecting freely into said chamber through said openingand projecting into the contained gas therein so as to establish aneutral buoyancy of the means with the means spaced from said controlmember.

2. The submerged apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chamber is agenerally inverted cup-shaped member having a center of gravity locatedto maintain said member in the inverted position.

3. The submerged apparatus of claim 2 wherein said control member is apost projecting into said cup-shaped member,

4. The submerged apparatus of claim 1 having an enclosure means forminga part of said chamber with means to selectively seal the enclosuremeans, and a gas passageway means connected to the chamber forcontinuously passing gas out of said chamber to maintain said positionof neutral buoyancy.

5. The submerged apparatus of claim 1 having an enclosure means forminga part of said chamber with means to selectively seal the enclosuremeans, gas escape means connected to the chamber at the water levelwithin the chamber at the position of neutral buoyancy, and means tosupply gas to said enclosure means.

6. The submerged apparatus of claim 1 having a gas cartridge mountedwithin said chamber and containing a gas confined under a substantiallyhigher pressure than the gas in the chamber, said cartridge including arelease means responsive to a remotely generated control signal.

7. The method of positioning an apparatus having a base portion and adepending and encircling sidewall portion defining an opening to aconfining chamber comprising submerging said member in a liquid with apreselected amount of gaseous fluid trapped within said confiningchamber, said gaseous fluid being selected to create a References Citednegative buoyancy characteristic whereby said member UNITED STATESPATENTS moves downwardly within the liquid, and directing said memberonto a pillar member having an outer configura- 2,784,559 3/1957 Kalmo6l 69 tion to pass freely through said opening and into said 39209562/1962 Suderow gaseous fluid and locating said member over said pillar 53,215,202 11/1965 Pollard et 61 69 member at a position of neutralbuoyancy.

8. In the method of positioning an apparatus accord- JACOB SHAPIROPnmary Exammer ing to claim 7 including the steps of continuouslypassing U S C1 X R gaseous fluid through said gaseous chamber, andselec- 10 tively preventing escape of gaseous fluid to establish a 1positive buoyancy.

